ANDOVER Town’s manager has bemoaned refereeing decisions after his side’s four-match winning run was abruptly ended with a 2-1 defeat at Lymington last weekend.

Neil Benson, who had steered his side into 2015 off the back of a storming run, was disappointed with a penalty given against his side in the first half.

However, the manager was then left fuming after they were later denied a penalty when Aqwasi Nyarko-Marfo appeared to be brought down in the box.

The penalty, converted by Jack Bockhart, looked to have given Lymington the half-time lead but a headed equaliser by Ike Robertson just before the break gave Andover a much needed boost.

Both teams struggled to create chances in the second half until Michael Dixon latched on to a Claudio Herbert pass and forced a fantastic save from Lymington keeper Rob Vine.

Andover continued to search for a winner but it was the home-side who dealt the decisive blow when Tom Man slotted in Brad Stickland, who slotted the ball calmly past Jake Wellesley- David to give Lymington all three points.

After the match Benson, pictured, spoke of his disappointment about the two big decisions.

He said: “I’m not convinced it was penalty against us.

“Ope (Aromona) is a big lad and he’s come across the attacker using his strength and unfortunately the referee has given the decision against him.

“Then we go up the other end and our player is brought crashing down in the box and the referee doesn’t give it.

“I was speaking to someone filming the game and he said it was the most stonewall penalty he’s ever seen.”

The manager has also spoken out against decisions in recent matches, which he felt affected this weekend’s game.

Benson was particularly unhappy at Hampshire FA’s decision not to revoke Alex Dockree’s red card after he was sent off in their last game at Winchester.

He said: “We appealed to the FA but the appeal fell on deaf ears.

“It would of been useful to have Alex for this game because he’s our match captain and a really important player for us.

“In the last few games the refereeing decisions have added up and, unfortunately, last weekend it cost us.”

Town now have a short break in fixtures, with no game this weekend, but will return to the Portway to face Alresford Town on Saturday 17.